Petty wins inaugural Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty was named Friday night as the inaugural winner of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, presented by the Tyler Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler as the top offensive college player from the state of Texas in the 2013 season.

Petty passed for 4,200 yards and 32 touchdowns as he led the Bears to a school record 11-2 record, their first Big 12 football championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.

Other finalists in the awards presentation that took place in Tyler included Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, Missouri quarterback James Franklin and A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The Midlothian product also was a semifinalist for the Maxwell, O’Brien and Walter Camp Awards and threw for at least 200 yards and two touchdown in each of his first 13 starts. It was his first year as a college football starter.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community, and tenacity; specifically tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals.

In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year DI Texas college.